Catalan businesses considering work in Abu Dhabi and the wider Gulf have an official local contact through ACCIÓ’s International Office of Catalonia in Dubai, which covers the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Lebanon and Jordan.

The office offers personalised assistance to Catalan companies seeking to enter Middle Eastern markets and identify business opportunities. For exporters and firms planning a Gulf visit, it is the named official channel for market-entry support.

Central bank projected 5.2% UAE growth in 2026

The Central Bank of the UAE, in its December 2025 quarterly economic review, projected real GDP growth of 5.2% for 2026. The forecast followed projected growth of 5.0% in 2025.

The bank said activity was being supported by both oil and non-oil sectors. Its 2026 projection was based on stronger growth in hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon activity.

  • UAE GDP grew by 4.5% year on year in the second quarter of 2025, according to the central bank.
  • The central bank forecast non-hydrocarbon sector growth of 4.9% for 2025.
  • UAE inflation stood at 1.1% in the third quarter of 2025, while the bank forecast annual inflation of 1.3% for that year.

Financial and insurance services, manufacturing, construction, real estate, wholesale and retail, and tourism-related services were among the non-oil activities identified by the central bank as drivers of growth.

Water security remains a business area

For Catalan firms in water technology and infrastructure, ACCIÓ’s 2023 Gulf market briefing identified rising demand for water and desalination projects in the UAE. It said the country’s Water Security Strategy 2036 aims to reduce total demand for water resources by 21%.

The same ACCIÓ briefing recorded US$2.08 billion invested in new desalination plants in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Umm Al Quwain during 2022, citing the UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. Companies seeking advice on Gulf opportunities can contact ACCIÓ through its Dubai office.

Primary sources: ACCIÓ - Agència per la Competitivitat de l'Empresa, accio.gencat.cat, tradeportal.accio.gencat.cat, gov.uk. Reported by centralbank.ae, agbi.com, mofa.gov.ae, Alvin R Cabral, AGBI, WAM, مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي, khaleejtimes.com, thenationalnews.com, kpf.com, viaempresa.cat.